Random indicating device

ABSTRACT

A random indicating device consisting of first and second ring counter circuits each having a plurality of lamps therein which will ignite in sequence, a full wave rectifier for converting alternating current into the pulses for effecting sequential ignition of the lamps in the first ring counter circuit, a carry circuit for effecting sequential ignition of each of the lamps in the second counter circuit upon completion of an entire cycle of ignition of all of the lamps of the first circuit, and a switch arrangement for stopping each of the circuits upon the actuation of the switch, thereby to obtain a random selection.

United States Patent Roth [54] RANDOM INDICATING DEVICE [72] Inventor: Donald '1. Roth, 250 Marilla St., Buffalo,

[22] Filed: Dec. 24, 1969 21 App1.No.: 887,938

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,714,180 7/1955 Manley ..315/84.5 3,290,515 12/1966 Procter... 3,311,884 3/1967 Mengel ..3l5/84.5

[ 51 Mar. 7, 1972 Primary Examiner-Robert L. Grifi'm Assistant Examiner-George G. Stellar Attorney-Joseph P. Gastel, Kenneth R. Sommer and Robert C. Weber [57] ABSTRACT A random indicating device consisting of first and second ring counter circuits each having a plurality of lamps therein which will ignite in sequence, a full wave rectifier for converting alternating current into the pulses for effecting sequential ignition of the lamps in the first ring counter circuit, a carry circuit for effecting sequential ignition of each of the lamps in the second counter circuit upon completion of an entire cycle of ignition of all of the lamps of the first circuit, and a switch arrangement for stopping each of the circuits upon the actuation of the switch, thereby to obtain a random selection.

5 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures Z1 Z7 21 Z I 5 6 1a 14 26 1 18 T /ZO 2/ 27 1 1g 7. I I 79 20 I Patented March 7,1972 smszm INVENTOR.

IIII aim/a! 1% RANDOM INDICATING DEVICE The present invention relates to a random indicating device for efiecting random selection of numbers from a group, and the like.

In the past, various devices have been used for obtaining random selections of numbers from a group for statistical and related purposes. These devices have ranged the entire gamut from mechanical chance devices such as dice, spin wheels, coins, and drawing by lot to complex electronic circuits. The mechanical devices were awkward and inefficient to use. The electronic circuits were generally expensive as well as complex, and some were not sufficiently stable for general use.

It is accordingly the primary object of the present invention to provide a dependable, low cost electronic random indicating device which can be used for effecting the random selection of numbers from a group for statistical and related functions. Other objects and attendant advantages of the present invention will readily be perceived hereafter.

The present invention relates to a random indicating device which includes a first ring counter having a plurality of first branches with each of the first branches including a first signal lamp, a second ring counter including a plurality of second branches with each of the second branches including a second signal lamp, first circuit means for providing pulses at a first frequency for triggering the first ring counter circuit to cause each of the first signal lamps to ignite in sequence at a second frequency which is said first frequency divided by the number of said first branches, second circuit means for maintaining a lamp in one of the second branches in an ignited condition and for coupling one of the first branches of the first ring counter circuit to the second ring counter circuit to trigger the second ring in response to the energization of one of the first branches to cause each of the second signal lamps to ignite in sequence at a third frequency which is said second frequency divided by the number of said second branches, and a switch circuit effectively coupled to the first circuit means for terminating the pulses to the first ring counter to thereby cause the ignited lamps in the first and second branches to remain in an ignited condition while the switch circuit remains actuated.

The present invention will be more fully understood when the following portions of the specification are read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the face of the random indicating device; and

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of the random indicating device.

The random indicating device is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. As set up in FIG. 1, it comprises a boxlike structure having six lamps identified by numerals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 printed on the left-hand section and six lamps identified by numerals 1, 2, 3', 4, 5' and 6' printed on the right-hand section. These sections are set up to represent the faces of a pair of dice each having six dots. Eachof the lamps noted above correspond to the lamps shown in FIG. 2. The lamps 1-6 form part of a fast ring counter circuit 11 and lamps l'-6 form a part of a slow ring counter circuit 12.

The fast ring counter circuit includes six branches 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18, each including a diode 19, a neon lamp, and a resistor 20. Each of the branches 13-18 are interconnected, as shown, by capacitors 21. The slow ring counter circuit 12 includes branches 13', 14', 15', 16', 17 and 18' which are identical to the like-numbered unprimed branches of circuit 11. These branches also include identical diodes 19' which correspond to diodes 19 of ring 11, resistors 20, lamps and capacitors 21' as shown. The components of slow ring counter 12 having primed numerals correspond to the components of fast ring counter 11 having unprimed numerals.

Leads 22 and 23 are coupled across a normal 60-cycle source of alternating current and are connected to full wave rectifier 24 which produces the output 25. One side of full wave rectifier 24 is coupled to the fast ring counter 11 via leads 26 and 27, resistor 28 and lead 29. The opposite side of full wave rectifier 24 is coupled to the fast ring counter 11 via leads 30, 31 and 32. As a result of the parameters of the foregoing circuit whenever there is a transition from one of the pulses at 25 to the next pulse, any of the lamps l-6 which is ignited will be extinguished and the next consecutive lamp will then be ignited. Therefore, fast ring counter circuit will produce ignitions per second or each lamp 1-6 in the circuit will ignite 20 times per second. The operation of a ring counter circuit, such as 11, is well known in the art and a detailed description of its mode of operation is not deemed necessary, especially considering that the value of the components are listed hereafter.

As can be seen, branch 13 is coupled to a carry circuit 33 via lead 34'. Every time lamp 1 conducts, a more positive voltage will be impressed on the base of transistor 34 via diode 35 and resistor 36, the base being coupled to the emitter via resistor 37, diode 35 preventing high reverse voltages from being applied to the base of transistor 34. This will cause transistor 34 to conduct so that a negative voltage will be impressed on lead 38 coupled to the slow counter ring 12 which will cause a change in condition thereof so that the lamp which was previously lit will be extinguished and the next consecutive lamp will be ignited. Ordinarily, there is a relatively positive voltage on lead 38 because of the integrating action resulting from the combination of resistor 39 and capacitor 42. It is a negative pulse which causes the slow ring counter 12 to change its condition. This negative pulse, resulting from current flow through transistor 34, occurs only momentarily when there is a current flow through lamp 1. When there is current flow through transistor 34, there will be a pulse of current through capacitor 40 so that capacitor 40 and resistor 39 essentially act as a voltage divider to apply the desired potential onto lead 38. After current flow through capacitor 40 ceases, the potential on lead 38 will increase to thus hold the lit lamp in slow ring counter 12 energized. Resistor 41 is coupled in parallel across capacitor 40 to discharge it for the next pulse.

It will be appreciated that each lamp 1'-6 of slow counter ring 12 will ignite in sequence every time there is a current flow through branch 13 of fast ring counter 11. As noted above, branch 13 ignites only 20 times per second. Therefore, each branch in the slow ring counter will ignite N6 of 20 times per second or 3% times per second.

As can be seen from FIG. 2, a capacitor 42 is coupled to the emitter of transistor 34 by lead 43 and is coupled to resistor 39 by lead 44. An isolating diode 45 is coupled between leads 44 and 26. Isolating diode 45 prevents the potential on capacitor 42 from being applied to lead 27 leading to the fast ring counter 11.

In the event it is desired to make a random selection of the two lamps in circuits 11 and 12 which are lit at any particular instant, it is merely necessary to close switch 46, thereby to couple capacitor 42 to lead 27 via leads 44, 47, 48 and 49. This will impress a high positive potential produced by capacitor 42 onto the lead 26 coupled to the output of full wave rectifier 24. This will terminate the pulses being produced by rectifier 24 and thereby terminate the sequential ignition of lamps l-6 in the fast ring counter resulting from pulses 25 while maintaining the lamp last lit in an ignited condition. All this while the potential on lead 38 will hold the lamp then ignited in slow ring counter 12 in an ignited condition, so that there will be one lamp in fast ring counter 11 in an ignited condition as well as one lamp in slow ring counter -12. Thus the random selection has been made. In order to obtain a subsequent random selection, it is merely necessary to open switch 46 and then reclose it at which time one lamp in each of the circuits 11 and 12 will remain lit. It will be appreciated that theoperator cannot consciously predetermine which of the lamps will remain lit because they cycle too fast for this to be done.

The circuits 11 and 12 can easily have different numbers of lamps so that the circuits can be used for any other purpose. It will also be appreciated that the circuit 12 could operate another carry circuit 33 to be followed by a third ring counter circuit, ad infinitum. For example, if desired three rings of 10 lamps each could be used to yield random numbers from 0 to 999.

The above-described device is highly accurate. However, if a wave-squaring circuit were added across leads 29 and 32, the circuit would be perfectly accurate, and this modification is within the contemplation of the present invention.

While the ring counter circuits show neon lamps, it will be appreciated that other indicating or signal means can be used. These could include magnetic readout devices or incandescent lamps. It will be appreciated, however, that suitable modification of the disclosed circuits must be made to use the latter modifications.

The values of the components shown in FIG. 2 are as follows:

Lamps 1-6 and l'-6' Diodes l9 and I9 NEZH Must have very low leakage. I Peak reverse voltage (PRV),

1. A random indicating device comprising first ring counter circuit means for sequentially igniting a plurality of lamps and including a plurality of first branches with each of said branches including a first signal lamp, second ring counter circuit means for sequentially igniting a plurality of lamps including a plurality of second branches with each of said second branches including a second signal lamp, first circuit means LII for providing a pulsating signal at a predetermined repetition rate, means for coupling said pulsating signal to said first ring counter circuit means for energizing said first ring counter circuit means and triggering said first signal lamps in sequence, a filter, switch circuit means coupled between said first circuit means and said filter, second circuit means coupled between the output of said filter and said second ring counter circuit means for energizing said second ring counter circuit means in response to the filtered pulsating signal provided by said filter, third circuit means coupled between one branch of said first ring counter circuit means and the output of said second circuit means to control the magnitude of said filtered pulsating signal in response to the energization of said one branch of said first ring counter circuit means to cause said second signal lamps in said second ring counter circuit means to be energized in sequence, whereby said switch circuit means may be actuated so that both said ring counter circuit means will be supplied with said filtered pulsating signal so that the first and second signal lamps in their respective ring counter circuit means which were ignited at the time of the actuation of said switch circuit means will remain ignited while said switch circuit means is actuated.

2. A random indicating device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first circuit means comprises a full wave rectifier.

3. A random indicating device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said switch circuit means comprises a normally open switch coupled across a diode.

4. A random indicating device as set forth in claim 3 wherein said filter means comprises a capacitor coupled to the output of said diode.

5. A random indicating device as set forth in claim 2 including a first pair of leads coupling said first ring counter circuit means across said rectifier, a second pair of leads coupling said second ring counter circuit means across said rectlfier,

said second pair of leads including first and second leads, said switch circuit means comprising a diode in said first lead and a normally open switch coupled across said diode, and wherein said filter means includes a capacitor coupled across said first and second leads on the output side of said diode. 

1. A random indicating device comprising first ring counter circuit means for sequentially igniting a plurality of lamps and including a plurality of first branches with each of said branches including a first signal lamp, second ring counter circuit means for sequentially igniting a plurality of lamps including a plurality of second branches with each of said second branches including a second signal lamp, first circuit means for providing a pulsating signal at a predetermined repetition rate, means fOr coupling said pulsating signal to said first ring counter circuit means for energizing said first ring counter circuit means and triggering said first signal lamps in sequence, a filter, switch circuit means coupled between said first circuit means and said filter, second circuit means coupled between the output of said filter and said second ring counter circuit means for energizing said second ring counter circuit means in response to the filtered pulsating signal provided by said filter, third circuit means coupled between one branch of said first ring counter circuit means and the output of said second circuit means to control the magnitude of said filtered pulsating signal in response to the energization of said one branch of said first ring counter circuit means to cause said second signal lamps in said second ring counter circuit means to be energized in sequence, whereby said switch circuit means may be actuated so that both said ring counter circuit means will be supplied with said filtered pulsating signal so that the first and second signal lamps in their respective ring counter circuit means which were ignited at the time of the actuation of said switch circuit means will remain ignited while said switch circuit means is actuated.
 2. A random indicating device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first circuit means comprises a full wave rectifier.
 3. A random indicating device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said switch circuit means comprises a normally open switch coupled across a diode.
 4. A random indicating device as set forth in claim 3 wherein said filter means comprises a capacitor coupled to the output of said diode.
 5. A random indicating device as set forth in claim 2 including a first pair of leads coupling said first ring counter circuit means across said rectifier, a second pair of leads coupling said second ring counter circuit means across said rectifier, said second pair of leads including first and second leads, said switch circuit means comprising a diode in said first lead and a normally open switch coupled across said diode, and wherein said filter means includes a capacitor coupled across said first and second leads on the output side of said diode. 